Mia knew the signs of depression all too well. As a child, her mother suffered from frequent bouts, and growing up in a house with a loved one who was affected by this condition made her acutely aware of the forms that depression could take. When her husband fell into a state of lethargy after losing his job, she knew that what he was going through was more than just a bad few weeks, and she was determined to use all of the resources at their disposal to help him through this tough time. What Mia had witnessed from her mother was that depression has a unique way of...

To his friends and family, Omar was always known as content, somewhat introverted, and unassuming. At 41 years old, he was a business analyst who always showed up to work on time, and put in a solid effort. He lived in a nice apartment with his dog, enjoyed following local sports teams, and spent time with his loved ones on the weekends. What those around him didn’t see was that inside Omar was suffering. In his mid-30s, Omar started to realize that he might be affected by low-grade depression. His gloomy days were getting more frequent, and there were one or two weekends...

Content Warning: This article deals with sensitive subject matter around the topic of suicide. Mental health issues are far more common than many people realize. The Canadian Mental Health Association reports that one in five Canadians will experience a mental health problem in any given year, with a full 50% of the population going through some form of mental illness by the time they hit 40. Unfortunately, the prevalence hasn’t done much to erase the stigma. Half of those battling anxiety or depression have never sought any form of treatment, and it’s easy to see why...

We first met Walter when he was 37 years old. After a year of struggling with his mental health, he was looking for support for himself and his family. He was grateful to have found us, and we were lucky to be a part of his journey. As a truck driver, it was important for Walter to be fully engaged while driving. He was dealing with potentially dangerous situations on a daily basis, and there was little room for error. He had always been confident and focused at his job, but had recently begun to experience bouts of acute anxiety. Tasks that had seemed straightforward to...

Depression Depression is an insidious disease. Often regarded as an “invisible illness”, as with many other mental illnesses, depression affects roughly 8% of Canadians. Those under the age of 20 are most likely to exhibit symptoms of depression, and it is the fourth leading cause of disability in the world. It affects women in different ways than men, as they are 1.5 times more likely than men to be hospitalized for depression, and are twice as likely to experience depression. 90% of people suffering from depression never seek treatment. However, 80% of people who do...

It’s hard enough having mental illness, but the prospect of talking about it at work can seem almost too much to bear. While it’s usually straightforward to explain that you need time off for the flu, the stigma around mental illness makes it far more difficult to address symptoms of depression in a similar manner. One of our clients, Sandra, recently experienced this exact scenario. While Sandra’s depression is often controlled by medication and cognitive behavioural therapy, it can fluctuate during particularly challenging life events. Five years ago during a...